During the first six months, a child should be given only mother's milk. Nothing else, not even water.

The purpose of this video is to encourage the community to take action to prevent malnutrition. It explains simple things one can do to prevent malnutrition.

It is intended for the community at large.

The Story:

A woman visits her friend who is hanging clothes on the line while her young child is in a crib and her older daughter Pinky, is reading a book.

Her friend asks "How many months old is your child now? The mother replies "Just entered the fourth month now."

Just then, the child starts kicking and crying, and the friend says "Your child must be thirsty. Give him some water. And you give him some extra milk too right?" The mother nods no. Her friend replies "Oh, you should also give honey too. It's good for the child"

Hearing this, the elder daughter Pinky reads out from a book "During the first six months, a child should be given only mother's milk. Nothing else, not even water." Her friend waves Pinky away, saying "Run away. This is none of your business. Grandma!"

Pinky is right. For the first six months after birth, a child should be exclusively breast fed. Not even water should be given. That's right. If you give water, the child will be prone to diarrhoea. And your child is at risk of malnutrition. So, you remember the four things, don't you?

One - Correct diet for the expecting mother
Two - Mother's first milk is the best
Three - Only breast milk for the first six months
Four - After that, balance mother's milk with a nutritious diet

So, remember the four things, say yes to all of them and say "Malnutrition, Quit India".

Malnutrition is a lack of the right nutrients in the body.

A child is specially prone to the dangers of malnutrition from the time of its conception till two years of age. This is a very important period for overall long-term growth.

Malnutrition in India

Malnutrition in children and women remains as one of the greatest challenges in India. Malnutrition remains a major threat to the survival, growth and development of children.

Today, nearly every second child in India is a victim of malnutrition. It means they are physically and mentally weak due to which they are targets to many ailments, deformities, disabilities and allergies affecting normal growth mentally and physically. So we should jointly wage a war against malnutrition!